AFC Wimbledon suffered only their second away defeat of 2006 as they went down 2-1 to Billericay Town at the New Lodge. The result could well have driven the final nail into the Dons play-off aspirations had their closest rivals not also dropped crucial points.

More worryingly, Dave Anderson's side are now facing the end of this campaign without Shane Smeltz and Dwayne Plummer - both men red carded after the referee deemed that they had raised their hands.

With injuries and suspensions forcing the manager's team selection, Simon Sobihy came into central midfield next to Scott Curley; while Paul Barnes joined Shane Smeltz up front. Dave Sargent took the captain's armband for the day and the Dons lined up 4-4-2.

It had all started so well. Both sides struggled to find an early tempo but Barnes had the ball in the net inside ten minutes as he latched onto a long ball from Luke Garrard. A minute later Barnes almost scored a carbon copy of his first strike, but was just unable to get the ball under control.

Billericay responded with a flurry of attacks that never delivered an end product. Leon Hunter blasted high and Gary Henty could only fire straight at Andy Little when well placed.

On 21 minutes Scott Curley was booked for kicking the ball away and the resulting free-kick led to Billericay's equalizer. Lee Hodges whipped a dangerous cross in from the left and Nathan Elder arrived unmarked to head home.

Hodges then tried his luck from thirty yards, but what could best be described as a 'daisy cutter' never troubled the Wimbledon keeper.

Barnes continued to cause problems for the Essex side with his pace and intelligence off the ball. Smeltz put the former Barton Rovers striker through but Ricky Millard was fortunate to see the ball whipped away at the last second. Barnes then had a shout for a penalty turned down, the referee indicating that Jamie Dormer had won the ball.

The hosts took the lead just after the half hour mark. Plummer had won the ball but the referee pulled play back for a two footed challenge. From the same position as the first goal, Hodges delivered another dangerous cross and, although the Dons had marked their opponents more thoroughly this time, nobody was picking up Wayne Finnie - who ploughed the ball into his own net.

The second half began with Barnes lashing over left footed and the men in yellow seemed to have found their early rhythm once more. Good work from Sobihy and Smeltz led to Sobihy shooting from distance but it was comfortably saved. Moments later Garrard picked out Barnes with another long ball but Millard did well to save with his legs.

Billericay still looked dangerous from set-pieces and there were no shortage of them. Hodges put one on Brown's head but he was unable to keep it down. When Wayne Finnie was robbed by Elder, once again the Wimbledon defence found it necessary to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position. Hodges put another cross on a plate for Brown but it wasn't to be the giant defender's day as he again failed to hit the target.

The Dons backline started to look jittery and when Elder forced Sobihy into a mistake Little was quick off his line to make the save. Another striker may have rolled over the keeper claiming a penalty, but Elder did well and stayed on his feet.

At the other end Barnes was still on his one-man-mission to find an equalizer. He nicked the ball off Dave McSweeney's toes but couldn't find the requisite finish.

Dave Anderson attempted to shake things up with some substitutions. Dean Brennan replaced captain for the day Dave Sargent; while Luke Garrard made way for Tony Battersby. The formation changed to 3-4-3 as Sobihy dropped into defence and Battersby joined Smeltz and Barnes in attack.

Battersby almost made an instant impact as he shot wide with his first touch. With a quarter of an hour to go the same substitute found himself with a half chance but Billericay were able to clear just in the nick of time.

Dave Collins had replaced Hodges on the left just after Wimbledon's changes and the new man was enjoying the space he was finding without a full back to beat. Collins set up Elder whose spin and shot had Little at full stretch.

As the Dons tired Billericay were able to string together some of their best pass-and-move football of the game. Little had to be sharp to grab Collins' cross at the second attempt and the Wimbledon keeper was alert once more to Henty's strike, following good work by Hunter.

Richard Butler was welcomed back to the fold on 83 minutes, replacing Curley, while Smeltz dropped back behind the front three. A moment later Battersby latched onto a Finnie throw but nobody was coming in on the back post to force his header into the net.

As the game ebbed away from the Dons frustrations took hold and Shane Smeltz was dismissed after tussling with Scott Forbes. The referee gave the Billericay man a yellow but was in no doubt that Smeltz's reaction merited a red.

It would have astounded many then when, four minutes later, Dwayne Plummer raised his hands to Collins and also received his marching orders.

In summary, it was a disappointing defeat on a day when nearly everyone else in the play-off spots seemed to fall over their own shoelaces. The Dons were well beaten by a Billericay side that grew in confidence over the ninety minutes. Everyone connected with AFC Wimbledon will, no doubt, be feeling pretty down this evening for sure.

Just keep in mind' down, but not out!